Stop Indoctrinating Children into the Anti-GMO Cult

I find it adorable to see babies and kids with parents at political rallies. Shortly after my 18th birthday, I went to see Al Gore speak and was thrilled by the children towering over the crowd wearing various Democratic Party t-shirts, riding on parents’ shoulders.

I have loved Michael Jackson since I was three years old and as the internet is my witness, my children will love his music for the rest of their lives. They’ve both been listening to MJ since they were in the womb.

I couldn’t care less about sports, but I don’t mind my husband dressing my kids in Packers gear. After all, they look quite dapper in green and gold.

We know that children have a higher likelihood of choosing their parents’ political affiliations. It’s also understood that adults were likely to have been raised by parents of the same religious affiliation (or lack thereof.)

That’s why I hate seeing pictures of children at the annual March Against Monsanto. It’s also why I wrote this open letter to this little girl:

Along with political and religious affiliation, parents can impart love of reason, healthy skepticism, and critical-thinking skills. There are neutral, positive, and negative ways to indoctrinate our children. There are fun, kind, and abusive ways to teach our kids how to live. At minimum, let’s not instill a blind distrust of institutions, or the belief that scientists only have financial motivation. At bare bones minimum, let’s not use images of children as unscientific propaganda. Is that too much to ask?